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Max Castillo set to start for Kansas City Royals in series opener against the Rays

The Kansas City Royals will insert recently acquired right-hander Max Castillo into their starting rotation and hand him the ball Thursday night for their series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Castillo, one of two players acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Whit Merrifield, will make his Royals debut as he steps into the rotation spot vacated by Brad Keller’s move into the bullpen.

The Royals announced on Wednesday that Keller, who leads the pitching staff in starts and innings pitched, will move to a relief role. Castillo, 23, is a 6-foot-2, 280-pound native of Venezuela. He’s made nine career appearances in the majors, all this season with the Blue Jays, including two starts.

One of those two starts came against the Royals on July 16. Castillo allowed three runs on five hits in three innings in that start. He pitched into the fourth inning, but did not record an out. He struck out one and didn’t walk a batter in that outing. The Blue Jays went on to win 6-5 in 10 innings.

In his nine appearances (20 2/3 innings) in the majors, Castillo has a 3.05 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, 20 strikeouts, five walks and a .197 opponent’s batting average.

In 13 games (10 starts) in the minors this season, Castillo posted a 5-1 record with a 2.40 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, 69 strikeouts, 27 walks and a .178 opponent’s batting average in 60 innings.

It’s not clear how deep Castillo will be able to go in his first start with the Royals. He threw just 50 pitches in his most recent start for Triple-A Omaha. Castillo pitched three innings, and Daniel Mengden pitched the next three.

The Royals currently have Carlos Hernandez in the bullpen and he had been stretched out as a starter in the minors. Keller will also be available in the bullpen. He was originally scheduled to start on Thursday, so he should be on regular rest if the Royals need to use him for multiple innings out of the bullpen.

Roster moves

In order to make room for Castillo on the roster, the Royals designated for assignment relief pitcher Joel Payamps on Thursday.

The Royals also reinstated infielder/outfielder Hunter Dozier from the paternity list. Dozier and his wife, Amanda, celebrated the birth of their third child, a baby girl named Briar Laine Dozier, this week. Infielder Maikel Garcia was optioned back to the minors.